The Portland daily press., 1887-06-16
RUNNING THE RAPIDS.
One of the Exciting Scenes of Fur
hunting In the Northwest.

GBancroft's North West Coast"-vol1 IL
Probably there is nothing more exciting in
a fur-hunter's life, or in any life, unless it be
where one is brought face to face with the
probability of death in the form of an attack
ing foe, man or beast, than the running Of
rapids, which in the watercourses of hyper
boreau America is feature. Rapids were
run under two conditions. unintentionally
and Intentionally. The explorer descending
an unknown stream might find himself sud
denly in the tolls Of waters. An ominous
roar would first notify him of danger from
which retreat was impossible, the only course
being in directing the boat down the torrent.
At such times thought and action must be
simultaneous; for the boatman, knowing
nothing of the current or what the next in
slant would bring forth, had only his eye to
guide him, and should his frail craft strike
upon rock it was dashed to pieces. 1t is
difficult to conceive of a place where coolness
and quickness were more requisite, for be-
sides the tumult in which he found himself
engaged, he knew not the moment he might
come upon perpendicular fall or other un-
known passage to inevitable destruction.
Such cases, however, were not common.
There was excitement enough in shooting a
rapid where knowledge was united with skill
and the venture was made deliberately.
Rapids were run with full or half-loaded
boats; sometimes part of the men would step
out to tighten the boat or cargo and men, all
save the boatmen, might be discharged, leav-
ing the canoe empty. As the rapid is ap-
preached the bowman and steersman rise
erect and quickly exchange their oars for
short paddles; then propping their knees
against the gunwale, as much to steady the
boat as themselves, they hold their paddles
In the water edgewise with the canoe, while
the middlemen put forth all their strength
upon their oars that 1t may be the better
guided. Thus into the seething flood the
frail bark downward plunges. Now il rush
es as If to inevitable destruction, toward q
rock; but one strong simultaneous stroke of
bowman and steersnlan, who always act in
concert, Sheers 1t fore and aft to one side,
while onward it goes midst the Kisses Of
fierce currents, rising, falling, beating and
thrown violently there against a bowlder
which makes its ribs crack, escaping one
danger onlyto find itself instantly upon an
other. until finally with l0ng-drawn breath
it reaches the quiet waters below if indeed 1t
be not wrecked in the perilous passage. 1t
is interesting to mark the carriage respect
lively of v0yageur and Indian in such emer-
gencies; one merrily chants his boat song,
the other is stern as silent death. Yet as this
Frenchman in many respects so readily be-
came Indian, so the Indian in some few
things besides drinking. smoking, swearing,
and the like, became French. In due time
the savage boatman SO far forgot his taei-
turnity as to take up the custom Of singing,
which enables him to paddle more steadily
and keep better time. 1t is etiquette now
among the natives of British Columbia for
the steersman to lead with song, the crew
Joining only in the chorus.